I am an big fan of visiting the National Parks of the United States. Every year I purchase my annual pass and plot all the mini-trips that I’ll make to the various National Parks across the U.S. Whether you’re into hiking, camping, rock-climbing, or are just looking for a short getaway from normal everyday life, I highly suggest a visit to Zion National Park in Springdale, Utah. It’s a short day drive from some of the surrounding attractions like the Grand Canyon, Las Vegas, Horseshoe Bend, and of course Upper and Lower Antelope Canyons. If visiting Zion National Park is on your list of parks to visit, I wanted to provide a short list of tips that might help out in planning your hike of The Narrows trail.
What is this The Narrows you speak of?
Well, I know I mentioned that it’s a trail but it kind of isn’t. What I mean is that The Narrows isn’t what you would typically think of when you think of a trail. Normally, in my opinion, trails are somewhat clearly defined. The may be manicured by the past footsteps and trail markers with the exception of wilderness and backwoods hiking trails. The trail paths are also normally made up of some combination of dirt or rocks. The Narrows trail starts off as a dirt trail that eventually leads you into the Virgin River. Yes! You will get wet and you will have to navigate through varying levels of water in the Virgin River!
The Narrows is the most narrow section of Zion Canyon within Zion National Park. The Narrows is not only the 3.6-mile hike from the Temple of Sinawava to Big Springs. It is also the 16-mile hike from Chamberlain’s Ranch down to the Temple of Sinawava.
Hiking the Narrows was literally one of the best experiences of my life! I was hiking with a few friends on an epic road trip and this trail was one of the most challenging yet exhilarating hikes I’ve ever done. I loved the way the gargantuan rocks of Zion Canyon dwarf the people within the canyon. The colors of the canyon are marvelous, especially when the light hits the red-orange rocky walls just right or beam into the rushing waters of the Virgin River showcasing the emerald greens and magnificent turquoises and grays. It’s simply breathtaking!
The good thing about the Narrows is that you don’t have to complete the enter length of the trail. You can just go until you are close to getting tired or until the water gets too deep for you to navigate. Don’t get nervous about the water aspect. I’ll give you some tips in the next section to hopefully keep you safe but not sorry.
So what about the tips I mentioned?
How to keep dry…somewhat
So, I mentioned that you’ll be wading through the Virgin River as a part of this hike right? Don’t be nervous. For my first tip, I HIGHLY suggest that you rent canyoneering gear from one of the several outfitters in the town of Springdale. The town of Springdale is just outside the entrance gate to Zion National Park. By canyoneering gear, I mean items to keep you dry and to keep you warm. You can rent a neoprene wetsuit, neoprene socks, and canyoneering boots for about $50 from Zion Outfitters. We opted to rent the canyoneering boots and walking sticks as we weren’t too worried about getting wet. The water of the river was pretty warm as well. The sticks really helped us gain leverage as the waters rushed past our legs in all directions. I really think getting the whole package plus the walking stick is the BEST option though.
If you do decide to rent the wetsuit and if you’ve ever been scuba diving and had to wear a wetsuit, you know it doesn’t keep you completely dry but it helps to stave off the cold and reduces heat being lost so you don’t get hypothermia. It’s not a full wetsuit, it’s more of a pair of neoprene overalls that fits snuggly to your body.
The canyoneering boots were also key in giving us the grip we needed to walk in the river. I saw other hikers with gear from other shops that were just neoprene pants that didn’t go past the waist.
Check the weather
Check the weather report up until an hour or so before you hit the trail. Also, check the Zion National Park conditions website for any alerts regarding weather. The weather can change quickly and if there is even a hint of rain in the forecast you should be aware of it. You may be able to plan your hike before the rain to avoid any issues bad weather. Flash flooding can be deadly though! Rain will increase and decrease the level of the Virgin River periodically and at most times it’s manageable. So, if you get a wetsuit, get one that comes above your waist to keep your organs from getting too cold. This is especially important if you plan to go relatively deep into the canyon. The water can get chest-high or above at points.
The best time to go
One of the best times to hike the Narrows is in late spring or early summer. This is because the weather is still relatively cool and the waters are warmer and usually lower. There are usually more hikers and visitors during this time period though. Some people hike the Narrows in the winter as there aren’t as many hikers but obviously the cold weather can add an element of danger to the mix, so pick your time to go wisely. We visited in October and the weather was just right, in my opinion.
If you plan to hike the Narrows during peak season, get to the trail early. I suggest camping nearby in order to get there early. We camped at a pretty basic campground, Zion RV & Campground, about a mile from the east entrance to Zion National Park. Camping is also allowed inside Zion as well. Either way, try to reserve your camp ground spot early if you plan on camping.
Protecting your stuff
If you’re bringing your cell phone or camera or other electronic equipment, you may want to invest in a waterproof bag or dry sack. Most dry bags float in the case you drop them in the water. There are multiple brands that are worthy of the task of keeping your stuff dry on Amazon or REI. You can also use the dry bag to hold your dry clothes or the wet suit and boots until you’re ready to put them on.
You may want to wait to put your wetsuit on until you actually get to the river, since you’ll probably sweat your chimichangas off leading up to the river. The water boots will probably be okay to wear before you even start the trail. Just in case you’re looking to buy your own boots, the water boots we wore were Adidas Hydro Pro. They’re kind of pricey, hence why I suggested renting them. Zion Outfiitters also provides water socks to go inside the boots.
If you are thinking about wearing generic water shoes just remember that the water can move quite swiftly. Also, the bed of the river can be rocky and slippery. So I would caution against plain old water shoes unless they fit tight to your foot and have a sole that provides traction.
Now, for your cell phone, you can get a waterproof case, if you think you need one. You might laugh, but I actually sealed mine in a clear Ziploc bag. I was able to take photos without unsealing the bag & it was perfectly dry once we were done the trail. Do what you think is best!
Also, don’t leave valuables out in the open in your car. There are park rangers out and about and there are usually a lot of visitors moving around. You still don’t want to have to come back to a vandalized vehicle.
What to wear
It depends on what time of the year you decide to go. Since we went in late summer, I wore Columbia Omni Wick convertible trail pants that zip off into shorts. I zipped off into shorts before we got into the water. The material on the pants was quick-drying. So once we got out of the river, I was able to walk down the rest of the dirt trail in dry shorts. This is such a relief as walking in wet shorts can cause chafing and irritation. It may help to have a quick drying t-shirt on as well. I also brought a thin jacket of windbreaker material just in case I got chilly. I just wanted lightweight apparel that didn’t weigh down my hiking bag but was practical in the regulation of my temperature.
If you have hiked the Narrows in the winter, please leave a comment on what you would suggest for winter wear on the trail as I don’t have any experience with that.
Other things to know
If you’re with a group of people, go at your own pace and don’t be afraid to stop or call for help if you need it. It seems nice and fun to hike with a group until your body catches up to you and tells you to slow down. We don’t want to disappoint the rest of the group by slowing down. Due to the type of hike this is, you need to put on your big boy or gal pants and speak up! Seriously, it can mean the difference between life or death.
I know I’ve mentioned this before but invest in a National Parks Pass. This is vital if you plan to see the Grand Canyon or other National Parks in the Arizona, Utah, Nevada tri-state area.
Lastly, if the Narrows hike is not up your alley when it comes to adventure, there are so many different types of trails within Zion National Park that I’m sure you’ll find the one that suits you. If you’re not in to hiking, there are still plenty of things to do within Zion. Take some time to fall in love with a National Park.
In addition to the attractions mentioned in the first paragraph, you may want to look into visiting Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, the Hoover Dam, Bryce Canyon National Park, Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, Lake Powell, or Arches National Park dependent on how much time you have to spend during your trip. If you have any questions or comments, I’d be happy to hear what you think in the comment section. Thanks for reading and have a great hike!
